In 1994, the MLB Player's
Association called for a strike against MLB and team owners. Among the players'
demands was the right to sell their services to the highest bidder without current
MLB restrictions (arbitration, uniform contracts, etc.). Read about the 1994 player's strike
(http://remarque.org/~grabiner/strikefaq.html) and see answers to frequently asked
questions about the 1994 strike (http://remarque.org/~grabiner/strikefaq.html)

DISCUSSION

Summarize arguments concerning
salaries of MLB players. Use a two-column data-recording sheet to list examples
of the argument that MLB players are overpaid as well as examples of the argument
that MLB players may be underpaid.

ACTIVITY

Plot the rise in average
MLB salaries over the last 20 years. Calculate the percent change in average
salary versus the percent change in minimum salary. Is one larger? Why might
that be? What does it say about the "skills" of the superstars of MLB versus
the substitute or occasional player?
(http://www.baseball1.com/bb-data/bbd-mas.html)

What do players "sell" in
the baseball labor market?
Brainstorm the attributes of successful players: what makes a great pitcher
a great pitcher or a great hitter a great hitter? Generate ideas from the "Who
bats better?" on-line activity. (http://library.thinkquest.org/3453/less_act/m_bball.html)

Economists call these baseball
skills the "factors of production"(or "inputs" or "factor inputs") for baseball
teams. For baseball clubs, the "product" is team victories; therefore any skill
a player has that contributes to his team winning is a factor input. Use on-line
economic glossaries to develop a definition of factor inputs.
(http://guide.opendns.com/?url=www.bized.ac.uk%2Fglossary%2Feconglos.htm )

Calculate
the average NFL salary. What factors of production are used in football teams?